No, that’s not a police officer lying down on the job – it’s special-assignment garb on display next while its neighbor handled the controls for the ever-popular Seattle Police robot that was shown off at this afternoon’s Picnic at the Precinct outside West Seattle’s Southwest Precinct. You could also get a firsthand look at equipment you hope won’t ever have to show up in your neighborhood:

More commonplace police vehicles, too:

And the police-transporting method that operates on four hooves instead of four (or two, or three) wheels:

Also on display during Picnic at the Precinct, many reminders that police work isn’t just about enforcing – it’s about prevention, too: Here’s Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow – your first stop for information on Block Watches and other prevention/deterrent tactics – talking with picnic-goers:

Other tables included Seattle Police Jobs and the Victim Support Team (follow that link to learn how to support VST as a volunteer):

Supporting the community is the work of many of the non-police-affiliated organizations represented this afternoon, including Southwest Youth and Family Services, whose director Steve Daschle staffed their booth:

SWYFS is this area’s lead agency for the city’s new Youth Violence Prevention Initiative; Daschle tells us they’re about to hire one more case manager for the program. SWYFS also is looking forward to its September 18th fundraising dinner/auction at Salty’s, Fia! Fia! Daschle explains that while his organization’s funding is only about 20 percent from the private sector, “unrestricted” money like that from fundraisers is vital – for example, they have an Iraqi Home Visit Program that is supposed to run 2 years for maximum impact, but it lost one year of funding, so money like this has to be used to keep it going. Tickets are available online. Also looking ahead to a fall fundraiser, the White Center Food Bank, whose Audrey Zemke was at Picnic at the Precinct:

She says invites for WCFB’s Fall Harvest Dinner and Auction will go out in about two weeks; it’ll be October 17th at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center, with media personality Cindi Rinehart as auctioneer and North Highline Fire Chief Scott LaVielle as emcee. West Seattle Food Bank was represented today as well – its board president Pete Spalding chairs the Southwest Precinct Citizens Advisory Council – he stopped to pose with fellow food bank board member Shannon Braddock:

Spalding also had a bit of politics news: In October, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council and Southwest District Council plan to co-sponsor a West Seattle-specific campaign forum – time/date/location TBA. Both groups have been visited by multiple candidates during the primary season that ends with Tuesday’s election, but the really big forums have happened in front of the 34th District Democrats, represented this afternoon as well:

Though it’s too late to register to vote in the primary, there’s plenty of time to get signed up for the general, and that’s what the 34th Dems’ reps were doing, as well as encouraging people who are registered to get Tuesday’s ballot turned in ASAP. And you won’t be surprised to hear some candidates showed up today, including City Council President Richard Conlin:

Conlin is seen there, talking with Morgan Community Association‘s Cindi Barker, who was promoting emergency-preparedness education today (check this website for info every West Seattleite can use). His race vs. West Seattleite David Ginsberg is actually not on Tuesday’s ballot since, if there’s only two, they advance directly to the general. Other candidates seen at the picnic during and before our visit included Mayor Nickels, mayoral challenger Joe Mallahan and city attorney Tom Carr. Many other groups and causes – more than 20 in all – joined in today’s picnic, including the Southwest Seattle Business and Professional Women:

They meet regularly in Burien; here’s their website. A few steps from their booth, kids got a chance to jump and bounce:

The bouncer was over next to free food and an entertainment stage with music and dance (we’ll add video later of the Northwest Tap Connection dancers) (*added* here’s that video:)

Picnic at the Precinct is an event held at all the Seattle Police Department‘s precincts each year, presented by the Seattle Police Foundation.